Goolrick's

A person I was working with recently called Fredericksburg "the most historical city in the United States."  While some other people would disagree with him, there is plenty of support for his opinion.  The history here goes back to some of the earliest colonial settlements, it was the home to some key revolutionary figures (including George Washington), and was fought over in the Civil War.  You cannot walk or drive in Fredericksburg without going past a historical marker. 

There are also some places that remind me of more recent historical times, like Goolrick's Pharmacy. 

The sign outside looks like it dates to the 1950's, and the inside looks like it hasn't changed much since then, either. 

Until I'd been inside Goolrick's I thought it would be a tourist stop, a place to get something to drink and some souveniers, but I was mistaken.  The building is narrow and long, with a real pharmacy in the back and a lunch counter in the front.  In between are a few aisles of typical over-the-counter items you would expect to find at a pharmacy (antacids, pain relievers, bandaids, and cough medicine). 

The lunch counter has a traditional lunch-time menu, with simple sandwiches like BLT, egg salad and chicken salad on regular sliced bread. 

What drew me in was their malts.  What could be more fun that getting a malt at a place like this?  All the food prep is done behind the lunch counter, so we could watch as ice cream was scooped into the metal cup, milk and malted were added, and it was all mixed with a traditional malt/shake mixer.  The girls weren't sure that they would like a malt, but very quickly decided they were fans.

Fantastic Saturday: Farmers' Market & Art Attack

Some of my favorite days are those where there are no solid plans other than heading out with no agenda.  Today was one of those days, and it was delightful.

We headed out in the morning to the farmers' market, one of our favorite Saturday morning activities.  The morning was sunny and a bit cool, perfect fallish weather!  Every Saturday the farmers' market has a little something different, so we never know what we will find.  Today, the juggling man was there (he often is), and there was a marimba group performing that was very fun to watch and listen to.  Of course, we love exploring all the food stands as well.  The colors and smells are a great sensory experience.  As we left, Anja said "this was the best farmers' market ever!"

Practicing juggling.

Pretty veggies!

This marimba group was very fun to listen to.

Apples at the farmers' market, must be fall!

After the farmers' market we went a few more blocks into the downtown area and saw there were artists set up all over the sidewalks, so we got out to explore.  Turns out, it is an annual event called Art Attack where artists set up outside in downtown Fredericksburg and create art out in the open for everyone to see. 
There were people painting, drawing, sculpting, and doing graphic art.  Some were creating based on their surroundings, some were working from images in their heads or photos.

  It was interesting and inspiring to watch them work, and many were chatty and talked about their work. 

Swimming Lessons at the YMCA

Both Elise and Anja love to swim and this summer they really enjoyed the pool at our apartment complex.  Now that Labor Day has passed the complex pool is closed for the season.  No fear, Elise and Anja's desire to swim will be fulfilled!  Through September they are both taking swimming lessons at the YMCA.  I wasn't sure what level to put them in, as the class divisions here are different than what we were used to in Thief River.  Based on what the YMCA person said, I put both girls in the same class.  Elise is a pretty good swimmer already but can't do any "real" strokes yet, and Anja is extremely comfortable in the water, so they are both in the second level class.  The number of kids in each class is capped at 6, which is great, and there are 2 teachers for each class.  It is really fun to have both girls in the same class, and they really seemed to enjoy it, too.  Anja has a challenge in that the class is held in the 4-foot area of the pool, which means she can't touch the bottom without her head going under. 

Sisters and friends, so fun to watch!

The first night of lessons they practiced the front crawl, dove for rings on the bottom of the pool, practiced their kicking, and jumped into the deep end off the edge of the pool.  Both girls did great, and have tons of enthusiasm!

Elise practices her form

Tae Kwon Do Testing

When we moved to Virginia, Anja had to start from scratch with her Tae Kwon Do instruction, so she had to start over as a white belt.  Fortunately, because she had taken TKD for about 9 months previously, she already knew her stuff and was ready for her first rank test after one month in Virginia.  She passed with flying colors!

Kick!

Punch!

Doing her pattern.

There was a lot of waiting, and it got a little long for this little one.

Master Lee joking around with the kids.

Master Lee tying on Anja's yellow belt. 
When she becomes a black belt, he will tie that one as well.

A proud girl!  She worked hard!

In our TKD gym in Minnesota, the students have to break a board at every rank test, but at the TKD gym we are with in Virginia, there is no board breaking at the first rank test (for yellow belt).  Anja was very disappointed there was no board breaking.  It seemed like she didn't think she was going to get her belt because she hadn't broken a board.  But she did get her yellow belt!

First Day of School: Then and Now

First Day of school 2012, Elise
headed to 2nd grade,
Anja to preschool.

First day of school 2013, Elise
headed to 3rd grade,
Anja to Kindergarten.
I think Anja is starting
to make up the height difference!

The first day of school makes me a little sentimental, and this morning I went back to find some pictures of the girls on the first day of school in previous years. 

For Anja, this means going back to last year, her first year of preschool, and comparing it to this year, her first year of Kindergarten.  She looks so small standing next to Elise last year!  And Elise is definitely starting to look like a young lady, less and less of the little girl there!
 I found a picture of Elise going into Kindergarten three years ago.  I can't believe how much she has grown!


Elise's first day of Kindergarten,
2010.

First Day of School!

After prepping last week with Kindergarten Orientation for Anja and Open House for Elise, I think we all felt ready for the first day of school today.  It relieves a lot of anxiety (including mine!) to find the classroom, meet teachers, visit the cafeteria, and wander around school in advance of the first day.

I didn't get a picture of it, but as Elise and Anja walked from the car into the school building, they held hands.  So sweet!